David S

So 4 stripes would not be a "real" Kapit?n (Ing) -- I cannot imagine what sort of merchant vessel would have a CAPTAIN in the engine room--- but something like the title, "Chief Engineer?"

These actually are more indications of POSITION than "rank"?

So a "Chief Steward" or "Chief Physician" would ALSO wear 4 stripes? EVERYBODY with 4 stripes?

Even more complicated than that

Here is Merchant insignia from the 1920s or 30s

I have no numbers for WW2

The numbers for WW1 for the DSM is 1844, broken down as follows

Americans - 1075

Belgians - 31

British - 131

French - 316

Italians - 59

Japanese - 6

Other countries - 6

Members of the US Army in lieu of the Certificate of Merit - 220

Rank is Flight Lieutenant (equiv to Captain)

As for a date . . . I know not

You english is just fine

You are correct in your observations, very few American Officers were awarded the LoM (Officer) grade

From Wikipedia

At the beginning of the North African campaign, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer accompanied General Mark Wayne Clark by submarine to North Africa. Upon arrival, about 60 officers were awarded the Legion of Merit and were among the first awarded the medal. By some misunderstanding as to the rules governing the awards, these 60 American officers were awarded the degree of Officer. According to Lemnitzer, President Roosevelt was quite annoyed but did not rescind the awards. These were the only U.S. officers awarded the Legion of Merit with a degree.

Allright not the best source . . .but I've seen the info elswhere prior to the age of the computer

Allllllll from the backing color on an "anonymous" ribbon bar

Your talents never cease to amaze me

For what it's worth . . . here is the device for the Croatia Commemorative War Medal

Lose the beret, it doesn't look proper with a dress uniform

Where did he earn his MC?

Vietnam

From his official bio

http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/content.php?id=9

Post them here . . . experts reside within these walls

Scan them one by one front and back, and post them for opinions

It's probably nothing, but all (or most) ROTC torches have the flames on the right, this item pictured has the flame going to the left

Most likely ROTC as mentioned

When did it go obsolete?

That I do not know

Look here http://www.medals.lava.pl/us/uschk.htm . . . go to the bottom and check Massachussets for ARNG and enter

My guess would be the Massachusetts State Guard Service Ribbon now obsolete

Here's a pic

All I can offer is his bio from the 1976 Who's Who

Here's the site to the North American Araucanian Royalist Society

http://www.geocities.com/tourtoirac/

How many does Lord Ashcan have? Are they viewable by the public, if even in the form of photographs?

Rumor has it that Lord Ashcroft has in excess of 150 VCs

Here's a link I found . . . I was unaware of the books

http://www.lordashcroft.com/vccollection/index.html

Tis a very nice bar

Let's hope it stays down under rather than added to the collection of Lord Ashcan as he has more than enough already

The only other military is a WW1 set & book

http://www.bonhamsandgoodman.com.au/lot_de...amp;auction=167

Here's the bar

Ironically the auction is on 11 Nov

I know not a lot about police uniforms & insignia, but in silver / silver plate rather than gold coloured finish that button design would be worn by the likes of Chief Constables.

Thanks

I shall investigate further

Red on red (not braided) is the standard unless you're the following

RAMC - Dull Cherry

RADC - Emerald Green

RAVC - Marroon Red

RAPC - Primrose Yellow

AEC - Cambridge Blue

RAOC - Dk Blue (changed to Scarlet in 1941)

REME - Dk Blue

Chaplains - Purple

So far these defy identification

Looks like a "personalized" Army Presidential Unit Citation pin.

2nd Bn, 38th Inf was awarded a Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation for action on 17 to 19 Dec 1944

Part 4

Part 3

Part 2

Here is the citation for the award the Presidential Unit Citation to the 1st Bombardment Division,

but primarily mentions the exploits of the 306th Bombardment Group

The document is to big to be scanned in one pass and be legible, I broke it into 4 parts

It is an original mimeograph from the time

The mentioned Col Robinson was Group Commander (Jun 43 to Sep 44) at the time

The 306th was the longest continuously-serving bomb group of the Eighth Air Force during World War II,

and led the first mission against a target in Germany. The novel and film Twelve O'Clock High were

based in large part on incidents occurring in the group in 1942 and 1943

-->edited to correct spelling<--

Part 1

There are three levels (and three types of badge)

1. Marksman

2. Sharpshooter

3. Expert

You have Expert in Rifle and Pistol badges . . . both badges have been in service since 1958

Qualification is based on a points system

For Rifle qualification points are as follows:

220 to 250 points -- Expert

210 to 219 points -- Sharpshooter

190 to 209 points -- Marksman

I do not know the numbers for Pistol qualification, but it's on a similar scale

Typically, all Marines qualify with the rifle on an annual basis

The most recent qualification score determines the badge that is worn (higher or lower)

If a Marine achieves the score of Expert multiple times in his or her career, an additional "rung" may be added to the badge denoting the number of awards earned

Hope this helps

South African Police Service (SAPS)

This is a new arrival - - tis a very nice bar

Looks to be plastic over paper (??)

The order on this bar is different than the precedence on ribbon charts

I do not know the date on this bar, I do not believe the awards are still awarded by the current SAPS

The aloe device is upside down, from what the medal shows . . . for these pics I made made it right

Any help is appreciated

--SAPS Medal for Combatting Terrorism

--SAPS Medal for Faithful Service (10 yrs)

--SAPS Star for Faithful Service

--SAPS Star of Merit